Interest in farming cephalopods including octopus and cuttlefish requires careful welfare consideration for some of the most cognitively sophisticated invertebrates.
Cephalopods represent the most cognitive invertebrates and pose the greatest welfare challenge in aquaculture. Their solitary nature, high intelligence, and complex environmental needs make welfare provision difficult and mortality rates high. Farming them at scale before welfare standards are established risks institutionalizing significant suffering. A precautionary approach that delays commercial farming pending welfare research is appropriate.